Dog helps kids learn Photo by Ken Odor Published: March 10, 2010 By Ken Odor Sporting a pair of thick black lensless glasses, Bonzo, a certified therapy dog owned by Dave Dilzer, listened as five-year-old Baleria Balderson read to him last week at the Goochland library. Baleria’s three-year-old sister Gisella sat close by. During a break Gisella, who has not started reading yet, showed Bonzo some pictures from another book. “It’s a non-threatening way for children to practice reading,” said Library Assistant Eileen Ford, describing the Read Books with Bonzo program, now in its second year at the library. “I think it’s a great program,” said Baleria’s and Gisella’s mother, Karin Balderson. “It gives my girls confidence.” Bonzo is an eight-year-old Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier, said owner Dilzer, a licensed clinical social worker for Goochland Powhatan Community Services. “It’s a lovely breed, perfectly suited for work with children,” said Dilzer. When children pet Bonzo and read to him, their stress levels go down, Dilzer said. Sometimes they joke and ask Bonzo if he knows a word. “It becomes fun,” said Dilzer. Dilzer brings Bonzo to the Goochland Library once a month, from 6-8 p.m. The dog can handle up to four readers a night during a typical session. Read Books with Bonzo, designed for children in kindergarten through fifth grade, helps kids improve their reading skills in a comfortable, supportive environment. “We see improved achievement in reading,” said Dilzer. As Baleria was finishing her session with Bonzo last week, Michelle Harman arrived with her four-year-old daughter, Elizabeth. “Elizabeth was an early reader,” said Harman. “Bonzo has helped her build her confidence,” she said, adding that Elizabeth just read aloud to her pre-school class. Harman said her daughter likes reading to Bonzo so much that she passed on having a birthday party so she could read to the dog. When Bonzo’s school-aged friends finish reading 10 books for him, they qualify for a free book of their choice, said Ford. “You’d think they got a gold medal at the Olympics,” said Dilzer. Dilzer said he considers Bonzo a community resource. Read Books with Bonzo is a free service, said Ford, and is sponsored by the Friends of the Goochland Library. “Anyone can sign up. We want referrals from everywhere,” he said. To find out more about Read Books with Bonzo, contact the Goochland Library at 556-4774 or call Dilzer at556-5400.
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